Beam Farm Woodland Archaeological District
Encyclopedia
The Beam Farm Woodland Archaeological District is a group of archaeological site
s in the southwestern part of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. Located at 3983 Stone Road near the village of Sabina
in Clinton County
, the district is composed of one Native American mound and two other archaeological sites spread out over an area of 2 acre (0.809372 ha). Known as the Beam Farm Mound and the Beam Sites 9 and 12 (designated 33-CN-194, 33-CN-195, and 33-CN-208 respectively), the sites that compose the district have yielded artifacts
from the Adena culture
and the Hopewell tradition, both of which inhabited southwestern Ohio during the Woodland period
. Because both the Adena and the Hopewell lived around the mound, and because both cultures
built mounds, the identity of the people who constructed the Beam Farm Mound cannot be established; all that can be known with reasonable certainty is that it was raised during the early or middle portion of the Woodland period, or between 800 BC and AD 500.
Although small, the Beam Farm Mound is significant as a well-preserved relic of Native American prehistory. The Beam family, which owns the property on which the district is located, has never permitted any excavation of the mound; while this has prevented conclusive identification of its builders, they have ensured that the mound remains undisturbed and pristine in the fields above the Anderson Fork. The owners and the Ohio Historical Society
cooperated to place a historical marker
at the site in 2001. Because of the archaeological value of the mound and the other sites, they were declared a historic district
and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2006. It joined four other Clinton County sites that were already on the Register: the Cowan Creek Circular Enclosure and the Keiter
, Hurley, and Hillside Haven
Mounds.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s in the southwestern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Located at 3983 Stone Road near the village of Sabina
Sabina, Ohio
Sabina is a village in Clinton County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,780.-History:The town of Sabina was laid out by Warren Sabin, after whom it was named, in 1830, on land originally entered by P. Neville. The original plat of the town was...
in Clinton County
Clinton County, Ohio
Clinton County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,040. The 2008 Census Population Estimate places the figure at 43,200. It is named for former U.S. Vice-President George Clinton...
, the district is composed of one Native American mound and two other archaeological sites spread out over an area of 2 acre (0.809372 ha). Known as the Beam Farm Mound and the Beam Sites 9 and 12 (designated 33-CN-194, 33-CN-195, and 33-CN-208 respectively), the sites that compose the district have yielded artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
from the Adena culture
Adena culture
The Adena culture was a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 1000 to 200 BC, in a time known as the early Woodland Period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system...
and the Hopewell tradition, both of which inhabited southwestern Ohio during the Woodland period
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
. Because both the Adena and the Hopewell lived around the mound, and because both cultures
Archaeological culture
An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place, which are thought to constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society. The connection between the artifacts is based on archaeologists' understanding and interpretation and...
built mounds, the identity of the people who constructed the Beam Farm Mound cannot be established; all that can be known with reasonable certainty is that it was raised during the early or middle portion of the Woodland period, or between 800 BC and AD 500.
Although small, the Beam Farm Mound is significant as a well-preserved relic of Native American prehistory. The Beam family, which owns the property on which the district is located, has never permitted any excavation of the mound; while this has prevented conclusive identification of its builders, they have ensured that the mound remains undisturbed and pristine in the fields above the Anderson Fork. The owners and the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
cooperated to place a historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
at the site in 2001. Because of the archaeological value of the mound and the other sites, they were declared a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2006. It joined four other Clinton County sites that were already on the Register: the Cowan Creek Circular Enclosure and the Keiter
Keiter Mound
The Keiter Mound is a Native American mound in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Located north of the city of Wilmington, it sits on a hill above the stream bottom of a small secondary creek. Due to its location, it is believed to be a work of Hopewellian peoples...
, Hurley, and Hillside Haven
Hillside Haven Mound
The Hillside Haven Mound is a Native American mound in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Located southwest of Oakland in Clinton County, it sits in dense woodland on the side of a hill...
Mounds.